Printing press



Ott. 31, 1939. H BEHRENS I 2,178.465

PRINTING PRESS Filed May '7, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. C. BEHRENS PRINTING PRESS Filed May 7, 1937 JCL Oct. 3l, 1939,.

Oct. 3l, 1939. H, c. BEHRENS PRINTING PRESS Filed May '7, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 3l, 1939. H. c. BEHRENS v 2,178.465

PRINTING PRESS Filed May 7, 1957 s sheets-sheet 4 G'Sheets-Sheet 6 H. c. BEHRENS PRINTING PRESS i Filed May 7, 1937 A UQ Oct. 3l, 1939.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE to Duplex Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 7, 1937, Serial No. 141,347

23 Claims.

This invention relates to flat bed web perfecting printing presses of the well-known Duplex type, such as shown in Cox Patent 478,503, July 5, 1892, and Bechman Patent 627,089, June 20,

1899, in which impression cylinders are reciprocated over stationary type beds, such impression cylinders being mounted in cross-heads disposed at opposite sides of the press, and which crossheads have been heretofore reciprocated by means of crank gears and pitmen. In this type of press the type beds are preferably arranged one above the other, and means are provided for feeding a web and directing it successively to and lbetween the cylinders and beds and thence to the delivery. The web feeding, guiding and delivery mechanisms however form no part of my present invention.

One object of my invention is to provide a novel drive for the cross-heads of such press and do away with the customary crank gear drive which imparted a variable speed of movement tothe cross-heads during the taking of impressions. My novel drive includes endless chains at each side of the press running over spaced sprockets driven directly, or indirectly, from the main drive shaft of the press; each chain carrying a pin engaging a Vertical slot in the related cross-head and forming therewith a Scotch-yoke connection, such construction producing a constant speed of haul of the cross-heads and impression cylinders during impressions and between the sprocket centers, and as the pins pass around the sprockets the speed of the crossheads is gradually decelerated to a stop and then gradually accelerated to full speed, thus reducing jar and vibration at the end of each stroke of the cross-heads and cylinders.

Endless chain drives have heretofore been used for reciprocating the beds of ordinary flat bed printing presses, as there is ample room under the beds of such pressesv for such chain drives; but in order to apply such chain drives to stationary-bed reciprocating-cylinder presses having parallel beds mounted one above the other, and in which the impression cylinders are reciprocated over the related beds, the endless chain drive mechanism cannot be disposed under the beds. Therefore another object of my invention is to provide a practical construction in which the cross-heads of such presses are operated by endless chain drives.

A further object of the invention is to provide a press of the above type with two oppositely movable sets of cross-heads, one carrying the upper impression cylinder and the other the familiar with the art to adopt and use the same;

and in the claims I have summarized the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of part of a Duplex flat-bed perfecting printing press equipped with my novel endless chain drive.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. `3 is a detail horizontal sectional view of one side of the press on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

` Fig. 4 is a side elevation of part of a Duplex press having two sets of cross-heads and endless chain drives therefor.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. y Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section of one side of the press on the line 6 6, Fig. 4.

Fig.7 is an enlargedsection on the line 1 1, Fig. 4.

Fig. S is a side elevation of part of a Duplex press equipped with another embodiment of my invention. y

Fig. 9 is a detail top plan View of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 isa detail section on approximately line lll-l0, Fig. 8.

The press shown'in Figs. 1 3, inclusive, has side frames I, connected by cross-members 2, and supportingsuperposed stationary type beds 3 and l with which Arespectively cooperate impression cylinders 3a, 4a. The cylinders 3a, 4a are provided with the usual gears 3b, 4b meshing with stationary racks 3c, 4c at the sides of the beds 3, 4.

vThe impression cylinders 3a, 4a are journaled in reciprocable cross-heads 5 having ribs 5a slidably engaged in horizontal guideways la in the sidev frame l intermediate the beds 3, 4. Distributing and form inking rollers are mounted in the cross-heads as usual.

The web W is led in from feed rolls (not shown) at. one end of the press to and under a guide 6 up over a looping-roller '1, down under guide 8, to and4 over a guide 9 on the crossheads; then under cylinder 3a, and up over guide l0 on the cross-head, to and under a guide II; then up to and over guide I2, back to a guide I 3 on the crosshead, down under cylinder 4a, and up over guide I 4, on the cross-head; then to and over roll I5, down under an upper looping-roller I6; then up to and over guide Il, and thence to the delivery rolls (not shown). The web may be continually fed to and delivered from the press, and shifted intermittently over the beds in the usual manner as described in said patents.

In place of the crank gears and connecting rods ordinarily used in such Duplex presses to reciprocate the cross-heads 5-5, I provide kan endless chain drive at each side of the press adjacent each cross-head 5. As shown in Figs. 1-3 each chain is mounted on sprockets I3, IQa journaled in channel-shaped brackets 23, 20a secured to the side frames. The sprockets are disposed adjacent the ends of the beds 3, 4, and are spaced from. the sides of the frames suii'iciently lto provide clearance for the cross-heads 5 (see Figs. 2 and 3) so that they may move partly beyond the centers of the sprockets.

On the shaft of sprocket I3 is a gear 2l (Fig. 3) meshing with a gear 22, that meshes with a gear 23 on a shaft 24 extending across the press. The gears 2I-22--23 are of such diameter that the cross-heads 5 when at their extreme limit of inward travel towards shaft 24 will not contact said shaft. The cross-heads 5 may also pass beyond the centers .of the sprockets Illa at the eX- treme outward limit of travel of the cross-heads. Shaft 24 drives the sprockets `I9 at each side of the press by similar trains of gears 2|, 22, 23. Shaft 24 may be driven by sprockets 25 and chains 25 (Fig. 3) from. sprockets (not shown) on a driven shaft of the press. But shaft 24 may be driven by any other convenient -or preferred means.

Each chain I8 carries a pin or roller I8a which projects inwardly and engages a vertical slot IJ: in its related cross-head 5. The roller pin I 8a passes through slot Im from the top to the bottom run of the chain (or Vice versa) as thechain travels around the sprockets. The chains I8 travel in the same direction, and the pins Ia on the chains will move the cross-heads 5 uniformly as the pins travel from one sprocket to the other, and as the pins move around the sprockets I9a the cross-heads will be gradually slowed to a stop and then gradually speeded up in the reverse direction. The cross-heads will be moved at uniform speed on their travel between the sprockets and will be slowed down and reversed as the pins pass around the sprockets I9, ISa. As the sprockets I9. E9e are of relatively srnall radius the olf-center pull of pins 8a on the cross-heads is negligible.

The aforesaid construction provides a Very compact and efficient endless chain drive for a Duplex flat bed web perfecting press.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4-7 the gudeways in the side frames open through such frames and in such guideways are mounted independent sets of cross-heads 30, 4I] for the cylinders 3a, 4a. The lower set of cross-heads 3D, carry the impression cylinder 3a and are provided with bearing surfaces 30a (Figs. 5 and '7) engaging the inner sides of the guideways of the side frames. The upper set `of cross-heads 4Q carry the impression cylinder 4a and are provided with bearing surfaces 45a (Figs. 5 and 7) mounted on the outer sides of the guideways.

In the guideways adjacent the inner ends of the beds are secured standards 3l (Figs. 4 to 7) supporting the roller bearings 3 Ia of short shafts 32 having sprockets 33, 33a on their ends carrying the inner ends of endless sprocket chains 34, 34a. In the guideways adjacent the outer ends of the beds 3, 4 are secured standards 3S carrying shaft 31 on which are mounted Sprockets 33, 38a carrying the outer ends of chains 34, 34a. A collar 37a (Fig, 6) may be placed between the sprockets 3B, 38a on standard 36 to prevent axial movement of sprocket shaft 31.

A gear 39 (Fig. 7) is keyed to the sprocket shaft 32 between the sprockets 33, 33a, and when gear 39 is rotated the chains 34, 33a will be Simultaneously moved in the same direction and at the same speed.

Adjacent each standard 3! is a standard 4I (Fig. 4) carrying a stub shaft 42 on which is mounted a gear 43 meshing with gear 3S and with a gear 44 mounted upon a drive shaft 45 extending between the side frames I and journaled in A bearings iw thereon. As shown shaft 45 may be (driven by a sprocket 46 and chains 4'! from sprockets (not shown) on a driven shaft of the press. In lieu of the gears 39, 42, 44 sprockets might be substituted for gears 39 and driven by a chain ruiming over a sprocket, substituted for gear t4, on the drive shaft 45. The shaft 45 may be driven by any other suitable or preferred means.

The diameters of the gears 39, 43, 44 are such that when at their extreme limit of travel toward shaft .45 the cross-heads will not strike such shaft.

In the above construction the set of chains 34, 34a are supported within the guideways in the frames. Each chain 34 carries a roller pin 35 engaging a vertical slot 4312 in the inner face of the adjacent cross-head 43; and a pin 35a on the lower run of the related inner chain 34a engages a vertical slot 3319 in the inner face -of the inner cross-head 30 (carrying the lower impression cylinder 3a). As the upper and lower runs of the chains move in opposite directions, therefore the `cross-heads will be simultaneously reciprocated .in opposite directions; and this causes the components `of `the shock load to act in opposite drecticns, vas the direction of movement of the cross-heads is reversed, and thus neutralize each other resulting in the minimum of vibration and quieter operation.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8-10, the portion of each of the side frames is provided intermediate the beds with a guideway in which is slidably mounted the central portion 50a of the cross-head 50, the portions 5M being at the inner side vof the cross-head and such cross-head extends above and below the guideway. In the upper portions of the cross-heads are journaled the cylinder 4a, and the distributing and inking rollers, such as are commonly employed in this type of press, and in the depending portions of the cross-heads are journaled the cylinders 3a and the distributing and form inking roller as usual.

The portion v530i has a longitudinal opening 50h parallel with the guideway, and through this -opening extends an endless chain, or preferably a -pair of endless chains 60, which are carried by parallel sprockets GI on the ends of shafts 52, which extend across the machine in a plane intermediate the beds and at about the axial line of the guideway, and may be supported on brackets 63 attached to a cross member 64 fastened to and `between the side frames. The supports for the shafts 62 are so disposed that they will not interfere with the proper reciprocating movement of the cross-heads, and ample room is provided between the bed I and the upper sides of the lower cylinder or web guides carried on the lower portion of the cross-head.

To permit the cross-heads 50 to move partially pastthe shafts '62 (asis required during the reversal movements of the cross-heads), the inner sides of member 50a of the cros-s-head is slotted as at 5017 (see Fig. 10).

In the outer side of the cross-head opposite opening .50h is a vertical channel 50c which is engaged by a pin or roller 60e on the adjacent chain 60. In the inner face of the inner side of the cross-head is a vertical channel e'which is engaged by a pin or roller 60e on adjacent chain 60. These pins and rollers form a Scotch-yoke connection between the chains 6B and the crosshead 5), and when shaft 62 is rotated so as to drive the chains 6d, the cross-heads will be moved at uniform speed between the sprockets tl and.

then as the pins Sile-60e travel around the "sprockets 6| (at either end of the guideway) the cross-heads will be gradually retarded to a stop and then started in the reverse direction and accelerated to full speed and moved toward the other end of the guideway, at which point thel cross-heads are again slowed down, stopped and started in the reverse direction.

By employing yvertical slots as 50c and 50e (Fig. l0) at opposite sides of the sprocket chains the tendency of the Scotch-yoke motion to twist the chains during reversal is obviated, as the pressure on one roller counterbalances 'or counsprockets supporting said chains adjacent the ends of the bed, said sprockets being journaled on stub shafts disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads, and said cross-heads having slots and said chains having pins engaging the ,Y

slots, whereby the cross-heads may be freely reciprocated between the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

4. In a printing press having a pair of superposed beds, a cylinder for and cooperating with each bed, a set of reciprocable cross-heads for each cylinder, sets of endless chains extending parallel with the beds, sprockets supporting said chains adjacent the ends of the bed; sprockets being journaled on stub shafts disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads, and said cross-heads having slots and the chains having pins engaging the slots in the related crossheads, whereby the crossnheads may be freely.`

reciprocated in opposite directions between the sprockets, and reversed while the pins are pass- .ing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

5. In a printing press having side frames, stationary beds between the frames, cylinders reciprocable over` the beds, cross-heads carrying said cylinders and slidably mounted in guideways in the side frames, endless chains extending parallel with the beds in the guideways, and 30 sprockets in the guideways supporting said chains, said cross-heads and related chains having interengaging devices whereby the Acrossheads are reciprocated at uniform speed between said the sprockets and reversed while the pins are 36 a 33 teracts the pressure on the other. In some cases passing around the sprockets at either end of 'tion could' be employed.

While I have shown the cross-head 5l) as' formed integral, it couldvbe made in parts bolted together toffacilitate assemblage thereof..l This however is merely a matter of mechanical skill and not a feature of the invention.

The shaft 6E might be driven sprocket I n heads in which the cylinder is journaled; an endless chain extending parallel with the bed adjacent each cross-headsprockets supporting said chains adjacent the ends of the bed, said sprockets being journaled on stub shafts dis posed outside the lpath of travel of the crossheads, and said cross-heads' having slot-s and saidl chains having pins engaging the slots, whereby the cross-heads may be freely reciprocated between the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around'thesprockets at either end of the bed.

2. In a printing press as set forth in vclaim 1, brackets on the press having arms disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads and in which said stub shafts are journaled.

3. In a printing press having superimposed beds, cylinders cooperating with the beds, and reciprocable cross-heads in which the cylinders are journaled; an endless chain extending parallel with the bed and adjacent each cross-head,

the beds.

6. In a printing press having side frames, superposed beds between the frames, cylinders reciprocable over the beds, cross-heads carrying said cylinders and slidably mounted in guideways in the side frames, a plurality of endless chains in each guideway, and sprockets supporting said chains arranged'in the guideways adjacent the vends of the beds; said cross-heads' having slots and said chains having pins engaging the slots in the related cross-heads, ywhereby the crossheads are reciprocated at uniform speed between the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

7. In a lprinting press having side frames, stationary beds between the frames, cylinders reciprocable over the beds, a set of cross-heads for each cylinder slidably mounted in guideways in the side frames, endless chains within the guideways and sprockets supporting said chains mounted in the guideways adjacent the ends of the beds; said cross-heads having slots and said chains having pins engaging the slots whereby 60 the sets of cross-heads are reciprocated in opposite directions at uniform speed between ,the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

8. In a printing press having a bed, a cylinder cooperating with the bed, and reciprocablecrossheads in which the cylinder is journaled, each cross-head havingl an opening extending therethrough; a pair of endless chains extending parallel with the bed and throughv the opening of each cross-head, and interengaging means between each pair of chains and the adjacent crosshead, whereby the cross-heads are reciprocated by the chains. y

9. Ina printing press having a bed, a cylinder cooperating with the bed, and reciprocable crossheads in which the cylinders are journaled; a pair -of endless chains extending parallel with the bed and through an opening in the adjacent cross-head, each cross-head having slots at oppositesides of the chains perpendicular to the runs of the chains, .and interengaging means between the chains and the slots in the adjacent cross'- head, whereby the cross-heads are reciprocated by the chains.

l0. In a printing press having side frames, stationary beds between the frames, cylinders reciprocable over the beds, cross-heads carrying said cylinders and slidably mounted in guideways in the side frames, a pair of endless chains within each guideway extending parallel with the beds, sprockets in the guideways adjacent the ends of the beds and supporting said chains, said cross-heads having slots perpendicular to the runs of the chains, and pins on the chains' engaging said slots, whereby the cross-heads are reciprocated at uniform speed between the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

11. In a printing press having side frames provided with longitudinal guideways, a pair of stationary superposed beds between the frames, .cylinders reciprocable over the beds, cross-heads carrying said cylinders and slidably mounted in said guideways, `a plurality of endless chains extending parallel with the beds and within the guideways, sprockets in the guideways supporting said chains, and means for driving said chains; said cross-heads and related chains having interengaging devices whereby the cross-heads are reciprocated at uniform speed between the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

12. In a printing press having side frames provided with longitudinal guideways, superposed beds between the frames, oppositely movable cylinders reciprocable over the beds, oppositely mov able cross-heads carrying said cylinders and slidably mounted in said guideways, a plurality of endless chains in the guideways extending intermediate the adjacent oppositely movable cross-heads, sprockets supporting said chains arrangedv in the guideways adjacent the ends of the beds; said cross-heads having slots and said chains having pins engaging the slots in the related cross-'heads, whereby the cross-heads are reciprocated in opposite directions at uniform speed between the sprockets and reversed while the pins are passing around the sprockets at either end of the beds.

13. In a printing press as set forth in claim l, brackets on the press having arms disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads and in which said stub shafts are journaled, a transverse drive shaft extending through the press adjacent one end thereof outside the path of travel of the crossheads; means for driving said drive shaft; and means disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads for driving the adjacent sprockets from the drive shaft.

14. In a printing press as set forth in claim 1, brackets mounted on the sides of the press having arms disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads and in which said stub shafts are journaled, a transverse drive shaft journaled in the brackets and extending through the press adjacent one end thereof outside the path of travel of the cross-heads; means for driving said drive shaft; and means disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads for driving the adjacent sprockets,

15. In a printing press as set forth in claim 1, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said crossheads having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; said sprockets being journaled in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions, and said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads.

16. In a printing press as set forth in claim l, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said crossheads having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; said sprockets being journaled in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bear'- ing portions, said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads; shafts journaied in bearings within the press and carrying the sprockets at each end of the press; and means for driving one of said shafts.

17. In a printing press as set forth in claim 1, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said crossheads having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; said sprockets being journaled in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions, said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of thecrossheads; shafts journaled in bearings within the press and carrying the pairs of sprockets at each end of the press; means for driving one of said shafts; said bearing portions extending adjacent the shafts at the inner sides of the side frames; and the inner walls of the extended portions having opposed slots opposite the first mentioned slots receiving the opposite ends of the pins.

18. In a printing press as set forth in claim 1, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said cross-heads having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; said sprockets being journaled in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions; said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the cross-heads; a transverse drive shaft journaled in the press adjacent one end thereof outside the path of travel of the cross heads; means for driving said drive shaft; and means disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads for driving the adjacent sprockets from the drive shaft.

19. In a printing press as set forth in claim 4, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said sets of crossheads being disposed respectively at opposite sides of said side frames and having upper and lower bearing portions slida-bly engaging the guideways; said sprockets being journaled in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions, and said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads.

20. In a printing press as set forth in claim 4, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said sets of crossheads being disposed respectively at opposite sides of said side frames and having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; said sprockets being journaled in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions; said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads; a transverse drive shaft journaled in the press adjacent one end thereof outside the path of travel of the crossheads; means for driving saiddrive shaft; and means disposed outside tions slidably engaging the guideways; said l sprockets for the sets of chains being journaled on stub shafts mounted in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions, driving gears on the stub shafts disposed between the sprockets; means in said guideways disposed out of the path vof travel of said bearing portions for driving said gears; and said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads.

22. In a printing press as set forth in claim 4, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said sets of crossheads being disposed respectively at opposite sides of said side frames and having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; saidv sprockets for the sets of chains being journaled in said guideways out of the path of' travel of the bearing portions, said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads; and the pins on the chains of one set being disposed diametrically opposite the pins of the other set whereby the sets will be reciprocated in opposite directions.

23. In a printing press as set forth in claim 4, said press having side frames provided with open guideways; and said sets of crossheads being disposed respectively at opposite sides of the side frames and having upper and lower bearing portions slidably engaging the guideways; said sprockets for the sets of chains being journaled on stub shafts mounted in said guideways out of the path of travel of the bearing portions; drive gears on the stub shafts at one end of the press disposed between the sprockets; said slots being disposed in the adjacent faces of the crossheads; a transverse drive shaft journaled in the press adjacent the gears and disposed outside the path of travel of the crossheads; means for driving said drive shaft; and means in said guideways disposed outside the path of travel of the bearing portions for driving the adjacent sprockets from the drive shaft. l

HERBERT C. BEHRENS. 

